For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy. The seven days of atonement and consecration make the altar most holy — the highest category of holiness in the tabernacle. What is most holy makes holy what touches it: the altar's sanctity transfers to whatever comes into contact with it. Matthew 23:19 records Jesus asking: which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? The altar's capacity to make holy what touches it is the principle Jesus invokes. The most holy altar of the ordination week is the altar that makes Israel's offerings holy through contact with the most holy place of sacrifice.

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